Never intended to disrespect Stalin: Jayalalithaa

A day after DMK leader MK Stalin’s back-row seat at her swearing-in created a controversy, TN CM Jayalalithaa said she would have relaxed protocol norms to give him a front-row seat instead

Chennai: In a significant gesture seeming to put behind poll rivalry, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa yesterday thanked DMK Treasurer MK Stalin for attending her swearing-in ceremony and said she looked forward to work with his party for development in the state.

Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa and DMK leader MK Stalin. Pic/PT

A day after controversy over Stalin being allotted a back-row seat at the venue of her swearing-in ceremony, Jayalalithaa said there was no intention to show disrespect to him or his party.

“I am informed that the Public Department had followed the protocol manual in allocating seats in the hall for the event,” she said in a statement.

She added, “if this seating plan caused him any discomfiture, I would like to assure him that there was no intent to show disrespect to him or his party.”

Relaxed norms“Had the officers brought to my notice that Thiru MK Stalin would be attending the event, I would have instructed the officers in charge of the arrangements to provide him a seat in the first row, relaxing the norms in the protocol manual,” she added.